How does Psalm 94:3 connect with Romans 12:19 on vengeance? Opening the Texts Together Psalm 94:3: “How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?” Romans 12:19: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’” What Psalm 94:3 Is Saying • A heartfelt lament—God’s people look around, see injustice flourishing, and cry, “How long?” • The verse assumes God is righteous and will act; the plea is for His timetable to converge with human pain. • The emotion is raw but directed toward the Lord, not toward human retaliation. What Romans 12:19 Is Saying • A clear command—believers are to step back from personal payback. • “Leave room” means surrender the courtroom bench to God; we are not qualified to sit there. • Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35, anchoring the instruction in God’s enduring promise: He alone owns vengeance. The Connective Thread • Psalm 94 voices the ache of injustice; Romans 12 answers with the divine policy on vengeance. • Both passages keep the focus vertical, not horizontal—justice is God’s jurisdiction. • Psalm 94 anticipates God’s coming judgment (see vv. 23); Romans 12 tells believers to wait for that same judgment rather than manufacture their own. Why This Link Matters • God hears the “How long?” and has already pledged, “I will repay.” • When the psalmist’s lament meets Paul’s instruction, frustration is met with assurance: vengeance is not forgotten, only reserved. • This union of texts moves us from restless impatience to settled trust. Supporting Passages • Psalm 37:7–9—“Do not fret…”; evil-doers fade, the meek inherit the land. • Proverbs 20:22—“Do not say, ‘I will avenge this evil!’ Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.” • 1 Peter 2:23—Christ “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” Practical Takeaways • Hand over the gavel: consciously yield every impulse toward retaliation to the Lord. • Hold on to hope: remind the heart that God’s justice may be delayed but never denied. • Stay engaged in righteousness: while God handles vengeance, we pursue good (Romans 12:20-21). • Speak the lament, but stop short of revenge: honest prayer is welcome, vindictive action is not. Closing Truth Psalm 94:3 asks the aching question; Romans 12:19 supplies the confident answer. Together they assure us that every wrong will be righted—by the right Judge, at the right time. |
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